Labornet Japan is a network of citizens, unionists, activists, scholars and others from all walks of life to share information especially about rights and struggles in and outside of Japan. Established in 2001, the group now has more than 500 members, and the membership is growing. The English site introduces some reports shared on Labornet Japan website and other sources outside of Japan.

Thursday, December 24, 2015

A massive crack down on labor organizations took place in Guangdong Province, China on Dec. 3-5. At least 4 labor NGOs were involved and
a total of 25 staff members and volunteers were arrested. Out of them,
7 are still being held by the police or inaccessible (as of Dec. 16).
Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions and Globalization Monitor have launched a petition to demand the Chinese Government to release
the detained activists immediately and to stop the suppression on the labor movement. The petition statement is available in various languages including English and Japanese. Join the action now to free the detained activists as soon as possible! (International Dept.,
Labornet Japan)
* Photo: Detained labor activists

It was reported that India and Japan have
signed a memorandum of understanding on the bilateral nuclear pact at the
summit meeting on Dec. 12th. However, concluding a nuclear agreement
with India, which hasn’t ratified NPT (the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty) or
CTBT (the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty) while possessing nuclear, will lead to
exporting nuclear plants and endangering the nuclear nonproliferation.

In addition, a nuclear cooperation with and
the weapons export to India, which continues arms races with Pakistan, would
greatly risk the stability in South Asia.

The protest gatherings were held in front of
Prime Minister’s Office in Tokyo and in India, where the summit talks were
scheduled between Abe and Modi. FoE Japan announced an urgent statement against
the agreement. (KUREBAYASHI Susumu) Urgent Statement / photos by Mukinbo

On Dec. 13,
AEQUITAS held a demonstration in demand for higher minimum wage in Shinjuku,
Tokyo. You can see various photos and videos of the landscape of the day on
Twitter AEQUITAS’ account, https://twitter.com/aequitas1500. At the demonstration, FUJIKAWA Rie, a
member of the Tokyo Youth Union, made an emotionally stirring and moving
speech, which you can see on YouTube https://youtu.be/PXekBKzgUcI. The fastfood workers’ movement “Fight for
$15” in the U.S. encouraged AEQUITAS on Twitter. (YAMADA Shingo) * AEQUITAS means justice or fairness in Latin

The karoshi
lawsuit filed against the Japanese pub chain Watami Co. and its former
president WATANABE Miki has finally come to close after a two-year-long
settlement. The lawsuit was filed over the death of its employee, MORI Mina,
who committed suicide only two months after joining Watami, because of
excessive work caused by the company’s motto, “Work 24 hours a day 365 days a
year till you die.” The settlement was a landmark, all-out victory for the
bereaved and the National Union of General Workers, Tokyo Tobu.

At the press conference in the Ministry of
Health, Labor and Welfare on Dec. 8, MORI Tsuyoshi, father of the victim and
the suit’s plaintiff said, “Watanabe has disliked the labor union from the
beginning. Although we have been at a loss about what to do with ourselves, we
have been greatly encouraged by the labor union, Tokyo Tobu, and our supportive
friends.” The mother, Yuko, said, “How I wish I could turn back time. I deeply
regret that I should have done everything to stop her when she expressed her
desire to work at Watami. I will regret forever that I couldn’t help her out of
such difficulties.”

At the end of her remarks she said, “I haven’t
been able to cry, but now that the case has settled, I think maybe I can
release my tears at last.”Saying so,
she smiled for the first time. (MATSUMOTO Chie)

“2015 Tokyo Rally―We won’t Let the Government
Forsake Nuclear Disaster Victims” was held on Dec. 5th in Tokyo. As
it marks the fifth year since the Fukushima nuclear disaster, the group of
plaintiffs in a lawsuit demanding the relief of the victims and organizations
of nuclear evacuees across the country and other civil society have together
taken numerous actions in order to expand and reinforce the movement. The
central government and the Fukushima prefectural government have revealed the
plans to terminate housing aid by March 2017, and compensation by March 2018. “They
are trying to sweep the facts and the responsibility of the nuclear accident
under the carpet by 2020 Tokyo Olympics,” says SATO Kazuyoshi,
co-representative of the National Movement. At the gathering, a case was
reported in which a family had its social welfare allowance reduced when one of
the children was qualified for a scholarship. Another speaker, OZAWA Yoichi
from Minami-Soma City, has been fighting to oppose the 20mSv/h standard.
“Mountains, which are already contaminated by radiation, are actually the final
disposal site of all nuclear waste, and the government is telling us to go back
there!” he criticized the government’s easy and hasty policy, which forces
Fukushima evacuees to return home. (By YUMOTO Masanori)